Anthony Chua Say Hua, 1916 Joo Chiat, 2015

Ink and colour on rice paper
103 x 100 cm (visible), 120 x 117.5 x 4.5 cm (framed)
Condition: Good, light piling and faint stains are visible around the top section of the painting, newly restored.
Proof of purchase available

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Anthony Chua Say Hua (Singaporean, b. 1966) is a distinguished artist renowned for his unique synthesis of traditional Chinese ink techniques and modern artistic expressions. His works explore the tension between heritage and contemporary urbanisation. 

From the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Chua graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts, followed by further studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, the Glasgow School of Art. His culturally diverse academic education enabled him to cultivate a style that bridges Eastern and Western artistic sensibilities. 

Chua’s art is significantly influenced by the Singaporean urban environment and its rapid modernisation. His works tend to illustrate the city’s evolving landscape and transient spaces through masterful use of monochromatic palettes, dynamic brushwork, and abstracted architectural forms.

In this piece, Chua skillfully places primary colours beside each other to generate striking contrasts within the minimal space. He uses blurred layers of white to balance their intensity, creating a feeling of harmony. The building, centred as the focal point, appears revitalised, and infused with new life through the power of memories. 

Chua’s innovation with the medium of ink has earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore) award and the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council in 2001. His contributions to the field have influenced a new generation of Singaporean artists. 

Acquired from Ode to Art, Singapore

(Photographed in January 2025)